Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A method of gift card exchange performed by an enterprise infrastructure comprising one or more processors and non-transitory computer readable memory storing executable instructions, the one or more processors executing the executable instructions to cause the enterprise infrastructure to perform the method comprising: receiving from a network terminal, a request to exchange a first gift card, wherein the first gift card is associated with a first retailer, associated with a first gift card account, associated with a first consumer account prior to the request to exchange, and which is accessible via Internet and administered by the enterprise infrastructure; determining a value associated with the first gift card; obtaining a value associated with at least a second gift card, wherein the second gift card is associated with a second retailer, associated with a second gift card account, associated with a second consumer account prior to the request to exchange, and which is accessible via the Internet and administered by the enterprise infrastructure; and digitally exchanging at least a portion of the value associated with the first gift card for the value associated with the second gift card, wherein thereafter the value associated with the second gift card is transferred to be associated with the first consumer account and the value associated with the first gift card is disassociated with the first consumer account.
A system facilitates gift card exchange. A user requests to exchange a gift card from retailer A via a website or app managed by the system. The gift card has a value and is linked to the user's account. The system determines the value of the gift card from retailer A and obtains the value of a gift card from retailer B, also managed by the system and linked to another user account. The system then exchanges part or all of the value of the gift card from retailer A for value from the gift card from retailer B. The value from retailer B is then credited to the first user's account, and the value from retailer A is removed from the first user's account.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein based on the second gift card, the enterprise infrastructure provides an offer or coupon to the first consumer account.
Building on the gift card exchange system, when a user exchanges a gift card, the system provides an offer or coupon to that user’s account based on the retailer of the gift card they are receiving in the exchange. For example, if a user exchanges a gift card for one from a sporting goods store, the system might provide a 10% off coupon for a specific item sold at that store. This offer is added directly to the user's account within the system.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second gift card comprises a universal transaction identifier that can be used to purchase goods from more than one retailer.
Expanding on the gift card exchange system, the gift card from retailer B includes a universal transaction identifier. This identifier allows the user to purchase goods from multiple retailers, not just the retailer specifically associated with that gift card. So after the exchange, the user can use the value obtained from the retailer B gift card with this universal identifier at various participating locations.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the value of the second gift card is the same as the at least a portion of the value associated with the first gift card.
In the gift card exchange system, the value of the gift card from retailer B is the same as the portion of the value of the gift card from retailer A that is being exchanged. So, if a user exchanges $20 of a gift card from retailer A, they receive $20 in value from a gift card from retailer B.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least a portion of the value associated with the first gift card that is exchanged is less than an entire value associated with the first gift card.
Within the gift card exchange system, a user can exchange only a portion of the value associated with the gift card from retailer A. For example, if a gift card has a balance of $50, the user could choose to exchange only $25 of that balance, leaving the remaining $25 associated with the original gift card.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein a universal transaction identifier is associated with the first consumer account and provides access to use of the value associated with the second gift card after digitally exchanging.
In the gift card exchange system, a universal transaction identifier is associated with the user's account after exchanging gift cards. This identifier provides access to use the value of the gift card obtained in the exchange. The user can then use this identifier to make purchases from various participating retailers.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the value associated with the second gift card is a lesser value than the value associated with the first gift card.
In the gift card exchange system, the value associated with the gift card obtained in the exchange from retailer B is less than the value of the gift card from retailer A that was exchanged. For example, a $20 gift card could be exchanged for a gift card with $15, potentially due to fees or other system constraints.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein information relating to the first consumer account is kept in a database of the enterprise infrastructure.
As part of the gift card exchange system, information relating to each user's account, such as gift card balances and transaction history, is stored in a database within the system's infrastructure. This enables the system to track and manage gift card values and user activity.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein after the exchanging, the at least a portion of the value associated with the first gift card is transferred to the second consumer account.
Building on the gift card exchange system, after the gift card exchange is completed, the portion of the value from the gift card of retailer A is transferred to the user account associated with retailer B gift card. Thus both users exchange value, which gets tracked on their accounts.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first gift card is a digital card, and wherein the terminal is a mobile device.
The gift card in the gift card exchange system is a digital card. The user accesses the system and requests the exchange via a mobile device, such as a smartphone or tablet.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the mobile device is a mobile phone capable of running a web browser.
Within the digital gift card exchange system where access is via a mobile device, the mobile device is specifically a mobile phone capable of running a web browser. The user uses this web browser to access the gift card exchange system's website or web application.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the request to use is received from the terminal over the Internet.
In the digital gift card exchange system accessed via a mobile device, the request to exchange the gift card is received from the mobile device over the Internet, allowing users to perform exchanges remotely.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the terminal is a point-of-sale terminal which is connected with the enterprise infrastructure over a secured network connection.
Within the gift card exchange system, a point-of-sale (POS) terminal can be used to initiate the gift card exchange. This POS terminal is connected to the enterprise infrastructure over a secure network connection, allowing for in-store gift card exchanges.
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October 10, 2017
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